Arsenal to face Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Youth League Last 16

Arsenal have been drawn at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in a single-legged tie in the Last 16 of the UEFA Youth League.

Steve Gatting’s side finished top of their group and will be looking to go even further than last season’s run in this competition’s predecessor, the NextGen Series, when they reached the semi-finals.

Should Arsenal progress they face the tantalising prospect of a trip to face Barcelona in the Quarter-Finals, with the Spanish side having to first negotiate their way past Copenhagen. Chelsea, who knocked Arsenal out in the last four of the NextGen Series last season, could potentially await at the semi-final stage again, although Arsenal’s immediate concern will be their tie against Shakhtar.

The Ukranian side finished second in Group A ahead of both Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United, with 17 year old midfielder Viktor Kovalenko, who scored twice in the group stages, a player to be wary of.